Fruit-basket



. u e B h S .m e e S 2 N A M R 0 P D D m d 0 M 0, w

FRUIT BASKET.

Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

Mute a N. PETERS Phuluulhoghphen Washington. 0.0.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

D. D. FORMAN.

FRUIT BASKET.

No. 370,385. Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

N. PETERS mwum n hw. wnm m, ac

To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

DAVID DESHLER FORMAN, OF HACKETT CITY, ARKANSAS.

FRUIT-BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,385, dated September 27, 1887.

Application filed June 4, 1887. Serial No. 240.300. (No model.)

Be it known that 1, DAVID DESHLER F012- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hackett City, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fruit-baskets; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a crate and baskets embodying my improvements, showing the manner of arranging the baskets in the crate, and illustrating the construction of the latter. Fig. 2 is ayertical longitudinal sectional View of the crate, showing the baskets therein. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. at is a detail perspective view of one of the baskets. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the same. Fig. 6 is an edge view of a thin board used to form one side of the baskets.

A represents the ends of the crate, which are provided in their lower sides with semicircular central openings, B.

0 represents longitudinal bottom boards, which connect the ends A and are attached thereto by means of metallic plates D, which are bent at right angles and are secured to the outer sides of the ends B and to the lower sides of the boards 0 at the ends of the latter by means of nails. It will be observed that only two of the boards 0 are used to form the bottom of the crate, and that the said boards are arranged at a considerable distance apart, and thereby the bottom of the crate is pro vided with a longitudinal central opening.

E represents boards, which constitute the sides of the crate, and which have their ends secured to the side edges of the end boards,A, by means of nails, as shown. Three of the boards E are employed on each side of the crate, and the said boards are arranged at suitable distances apart, and thereby leave longitudinal openings between them. At the upper sides of the ends A on the outer side thereof are nailed laterally-projecting cleats F, which strengthen the end boards, A, and

prevent the same from splitting, and serve as handles to the crate.

G represents a pair of cleats, one of which is secured transversely on the inner side of k each end board, A, at a suitable distance from the bottom of the plate. The said cleats G are provided at their outer ends on their upper sides with recesses H, adapted to receive the ends of longitudinal supporting-boards I, which boards are arranged on the inner side of the side boards, E, and serve to support the upper tier of baskets.

K represents the top or cover of the crate, which is made of a single board, but may be made of two or more boards spaced apart, and is adapted to be nailed to the upper edges of the end boards, A.

A crate thus constructedis extremely cheap and simple, affords perfect ventilation for the fruit packed therein, and is strong and durable.

L represents the baskets, each of which is made of three pieces of thin board. The side boards, L, are provided at suitable distances from their ends with transverse converging grooves, M, of suitable depth, and the ends of the boards are bent on the said grooves at right angles and are caused to overlap each other, and thereby form the ends of the basket. The overlapping ends N of the boards are secured. together by means of nails, and the boards L converge toward each other at the lower side of the basket. Each board L has a longitudinal slot, 0, made therein between the grooves M. The bottom of the basket is made of a single board, 1?, of suitable length and width. This board is arranged at right angles to the side boards, L, and is provided.

near its ends with grooves R, and the ends of the board V are then turned up and caused to bear against the inner sides of the boards L, and are secured thereto by means of nails. In the central portion of the bottom board, P, is made a slot, S, which is longitudinal with relation to the grain of the board P and is trans verse with relation to the basket. The width of the board P is somewhat less than the length of the basket, and thereby openings are formed between the sides of the said board and the ends of the basket.

T represents a handle or bail made of Wire e stones exactly fill the space between the ends of the plate, and thereby are prevented from moving sidewise. The first tier of baskets is placed on the bottom boards, C, after the baskets have been filled with fruit, their bails or handles are turned down nearly to a horizontal position, the boards I are then secured in the recesses H of the cleats G, and the upper tier of baskets is then arranged on the said boards I, thus filling the crate. The top K is then nailed on the end boards of the crate, and the same is ready for transportation. The openings in the sides and bottom, and, it may be, the top of the crate, and the openings in the sides and bottoms of the baskets, permit the air to circulate freely through the fruit, and thus keeps the same fresh and sweet.

Having thus described my invention, I claim* The baskets comprising the side boards, L, having the scores M and the ends N bent inward and caused to overlap each other, and a bottom board having its ends upturned and bearing against the inner sides of the basket near the lower edges thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID DESHLER FORMAN.

Witnesses:

A. R. FORMAN, LoUIs HUNTER. 

